Pressure-regulating valve



AprilZ, 1929. A. J. Mci-:WAN

rnnssum: REGULATING vALvz 2 Sheets-Shea?.v l

Filed sept. 3o, 1926 hdrewlMcEwm-v.

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Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

ANDREW J'. MCEWAN, OF VTULSA, OKLAHOMA.

lPATENT OFFIC PBESSURE-REGULATIN G VALVE.

Application led September 30, 1926. Serial No. 138,784.

This invention relates to pressure'regulating valves for regulating the flow of fiuids and liquids through service systems, and particularly to pressure regulating valves of that type in which the valve is controlled by Va lever` mechanism. governed in action by fluid pressure means, such as a diaphragm orY piston, influenced by the pressure on oneside of the valve. Y

One object of the invention is to provide a valve for controlling pressures between the high and low sides of a `pipe line which is itself eifectually balanced so that a sensitive valve control action may be obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid pressure valve controlling mechanism including a lever and a shifting fulcrum for the lever adjustable to vary' the power ratios controlling the action of the valve to adapt it to open or close with great reliability at a predetermined pressure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lever mechanism which is enclosed and protected from dirt, dust, rain and snow, as well as possible injury,'and in which the shifting fulcrum is adjustable from the exterior of the enclosure.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring mechanism operative for eitheropening or closing the valve and embodying means for regulating the working action of the spring.

Still another' object of the invention is toV provide novel means for accurately guiding the valve in its movements.

V in the line.

Still another object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means to compensate for wear on the valve and the valve seats and whereby the valve may be kept in good seating order so as to prevent leakage .meet different working conditions.

Stillanother object of the invention is to provide a valve which issimple of construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and adapted to be installed and maintained in working order at a comparatively low cost.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and'arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully vdescribed Vand claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-' a

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal` section Y through a fluid pressure regulating valve embodying my invention. Y

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the valve on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3 of Figure 1. l

YFigure 4 is a Vvertical transverse section through the shifting fulerum and lever.

Figure V5'is a longitudinal section thereof. Y Figure 6 is a view of a portion of the intermediate valve stem Section.

Figure 7 is a view showing the construe tion of the pivot yoke.V

Figure 8 is a sectional view ofa flow reducer.

In carrying my invention into practice, il' f provide a pressure regulating valve comprising a valve casing 1 havingat diametrically opposite sides thereof ports 2 and 3, adapted to interchangeably serve as inlet and exhaust ports, and with which ports, in service, oonnect the high and low pressure pipes or mains (not shown) of a gas or oil and gal-sor other servicepsystem. The valve casing Qhas arranged therein a partition 4v sub-dividing the same to form an outer chamber 5 and an inner chamber 6,y and said valve casing iS provided in its top with a port or passage 7. The partition 4 is joined to the side of the valve casing having the port 3,*and is` otherwise free from connection with the valve casing, the side of the partition adjacent to the port 2 being closed against direct communication with said port and with the chamber 5, While the side of the partition joined to the casing is iormed with a lateral port 8 normally communicating with the Y port 3 and with the inner chamber 6'. ln thej partition 4 areV provided top and bottoni ports 9 and l() in which are litt-ed valve seat ringsll and 12, said ports being' controlled by a double valve, generally indicated at 13.

. Then this valvey is open communication is i sures fallingthereon. These valves car-c CJI established between the ports 2 and 3; and chambers 5 and 6 through the ports 8, 9 and 10, but when the valve is closed communication between the ports 2 and -3 and chambers 5 and Gis closed. Port 7, however, is always in communication with the port 2 and outer chamber 5. f Y

The valve 13' comprises upper and lower valve Vmembers 14 and 15 which are otlike area and always balanced against the presg ried by a divided valve stem coiriprisingA three scctionsl, 17 and 18. Each valve comprises a recessed or cupped valve body 19 Within the recess of which tits a packing` disk 2O of them to tightly engage their seats.

shiins may be applied by simplyV rei'i'iovinp,` the suitable material for engagement with the valve seat for a tight sealingaction when thevalve meiiibcris closed. Each valve body is also provided with a central threaded opening 21, and the openingf 21 of the body ineinber of valve 14 receives the lower threaded end 22 of the stern section 17 which engages avthreaded socket or recess in a head or enlargement 23 at the upper end of the valve v Wear ofthe packings .2O and to prot-ect the paekingaavhen worn,l suflicientlyto cause These valves and valve stem as a unit through the top of the casing, as hereinafter described, so that-by the insertion of one or ,more thin sliiins a'V leaky valve may be repaired and rendered tight fitting, when the valve seats and packings are more or less Worn, so vas to compensate particularly for Wear upon the valve sets,

Withoutthe necessity of disconnecting the valve casing from the pipe line. VTVith each valve and valve, seat may be associated, it

desired, a reducer 27 comprising a central apertured body or top plate 28 having` depending flange formed with V -shaped slots 29 and correspondingly shaped Wings betiveen the slots. Each reducer is fitted in position beneath the valve member with which it cooperates by extending the valve stein through the-aperture in its top and clamping the i'ediicer in position as shown. This constructionprovidcs for the convenient use ot' intcraccording 'to service.conditions, without the necessity of a change in the size of the valve..

Vrlhe side oft partition l which connects With casing 1 has its port 8 located above the level of the bottoni of port il, and also above the level ott-lie bottoni ivall 30 of the valve oasiiig, and a part 31 oir the partition is arranged to form a dam Wall to prevent'entranee of liquid through the port 8 into vthe chamber 6 and interfering with the action oit` the valve. rlhe Wall 30 extends beneath the port 10 of the partition from the dam wallY 31 tothe port 2 on a r(,eneral convexl line of curvature, as shown in Figure2,sothat the major portion of said Wall 30 lies above vthe level of the bottom oit the port this construction, and by having the bottoni of partition 4 containing port 10 also loc ted above the lei/el oit th wall 30; a drain cha 3er is provided beneath Vthe valve per se, into which any liquid iinding its Way into the chamber or through the open valve ports 9 and l() maypass, ivhicliliquid will drain by gravity through port 2 into the pipe or mainconiiected therewith. lBythis means the accumulation of liquid liable to congeal in .the valve casing' and to interfere with lmaiveinents of` the valve and cause an obstruction to the flow ot fluids or gasesis prevented. As valves ot the type toivhich the invention relatesare commonly introduced between pipes .or .mains having; liquid drain valves at intervals, it Will `be understood that all liquid draining' :trom the valve into theV discharged from the pipe line,

pipes may be so as to keep'the system clear from such ol structions. v 'lhe-vfall 30 is provided With an opening` 82 located below port 10-lor the re-v moval of any dirtor solid Vdeposits at intervals from the valvecasing, this openingl also allowingl aecessto the interior of thevalve easingte afford greater freedom in assembling or disassembling the parts ofV the valve. A plug'BB is provided `for normally closing` this opening, 32. `This plug carries an upwardly extending; guide stein 34 telescopically ceived Within the, tubular portion 24:.ot the valve stein section V16, thev parts 24. and ormiiigcoacting `guide members to accurate--V ly guide the lower end of the valve stein a. c the valve members in1 their, movements to and from their seats.

(lon'imuiiicatine at its inner endivith the 1 q'l.,lr.f]3 ,fgL v (rbt-l0, u valve casing c lain. el c i iio .3 it, por o1 i ll passage Z is a lever casing 3a which encloscs a control lever 35. Above the port .7 this cas-- ing 3a is provided with an opening 36 nermally closed by a threaded plug 37. The port 7 and the opening 36 are of suitable size to permit of the passage of the valve stem and valves in the operation of assembling or disassembling the valve, or for the removal of the valve structure or the substitution of new packing for old packing and the vaddition of shims to compensa-te for wear on the valve seats, as previously described.Y The valve stem section 8 projects upwardly t-hrough an opening in its plug 37 and into a bonnet 38 fitted thereon. The inner end of lever 25 is provided with a transverse bore 39 through which projects a hard metal pivot pin 40, which is suitably fastened in position and has convex upper-and lower projecting end portions. These convex endvport-ions of the pin 40 engage concaved seats 41a in hard metal wear plates 41 carried by the opposed ends of the valve stem sections 17 and 18. Provided upon said ends of the valve stem sections are bearing plates 42 forming the members ofa coupling head, which bearing plates are connected by tie bolts 43 passingthrough spacing tubes 44 disposed between the head members, Y

and whereby said head members are adjustably connected. The bolts also pass through the wear plates 41 which are removable upon disconnection of the bolts to permit new wear plates to be substituted forv worn ones whenever required. A pivotal connection between the valve stem and control lever is thus provided which permits readyV assemblage and disassemblage of these parts and of the ready and convenient renewal of a pivot pin 40 when the one in use becomes unduly worn. VThe upper end of stem section 18 is threaded to receive the internally threaded lower end of a valve cage or cylinder 45, closed at its upper end by a theaded cap 46 through which passes an abutment stem 47, which extends at its lower end into the cage 45 and is provided with an abutment head or flange 48, and which has its upper end threaded and engaging a threaded opening in the upper end ot' the bonnet and is adapted to be secured in udjusted position by a nut 49. Enclosed in the cage is afvalveactuating spring 50, which is adapted to be disposed between the lower` end of the cage and the abutment 48 to exert downward pressure on the valve stem for a valve opening movement, or which may be disposed between the abut-ment 48 and the 4top of the cage to exert upward pressureV on the yvalve stem for a valveopening movement,

ythe spring thus being reversible for such acreversed, or disposed betweenthe 'ca 52 and at their lower ends by a cross-piece 53 secured thereto by screws or other suitable fastenings54. f The inner faces of these side plates are provided with bearing recesses 55 in which are anti-friction ball or roller bearings 56 in which are journaled the trunnions 57 of a bearing roller58. The bearing roller 58 is providedD with a transverse opening 59 for the passage of the lever 35 which extends therethrough and is slidably mounted therein. This roller, being mounted to turn freely.

in thel shifting fulcrum frame, adapts the lever 35 to have easy rocking movements, and also adapts the roller to move longitudinally of the lever when the fulcrum is shifted. Connected with the cross-piece 53 are rods 60 which extend in opposite directions and outwardly through stuffing-boxes 61 at the opposite ends of the easing, the projecting ends of the rods forming linger pieces or handles whereby the fulcruin may be shifted from the outer side ofthe casing. It will, of course,

beunderstood that only one of the rodsy need in its top and bottom with openings 62 withV which may be engaged a tubular coupling fiange 63 at one side of a casing 64 containing a weighted diaphragm 65. This diaphragm is provided with a stem 66 coupled e to the outer end of the lever by a fastening pin or bolt 67. When the diaphragm cham? ber is connected with the lower opening 62 and the stem 6,6 coupled tothe outer end of the lever with the diaphragm in this posi tion, the downward n'iovement of the diaphragm, when subjected to fluid pressure in the casing 34 and adjacent'side of the diaphragm chamber, causes the'lever 35 to be turned for a valveopening action against the resistance ofthe spring 5() when the latter is arranged for a valve closing action.`

as shown. The chamber 64 may be reversed and engagedwith the top opening 62 so that when the stem 66 is coupled to the `lever 35 with the diaphragm chainber'in such position, upward movement of the diaphragm under pressure from the casing 34 will cause the lever 35 to be tilted for a valve closing action. When the diaphragm is thus coupled for a Vvalve closing action, the spring 50 is 46 of the cage 45 and the abutment 48 for a valve opening action, the spring and diaphragm thusin either operation acting in opposition to one another.y In some cases, as whenoperated with low pressures, and with the diaphragm in the position shown in Figure 1, the spring may be dispensed with and reliance Vze placed upon the `torce of gravity for closing the valves and holding them closed under the weight of trie valves and valve stem. YExcept when Working,- with very low pressures, hovever, the spring,` or a suitable vveieht equivalent is preferably employed. 'A cap or closure 627 is provided flor sealing the opening; 62 y i'vhich is not in use for working lcoaction with 1, to allow the liquid from the diaphragm chamber to drain mtothe valve chamber 5A and from thence out through the port 2.

Y In vthe operation oi this valve, the ports 2 and 3 maybe interchangeably employed as inlet 'and outlet ports. INhen used as a back pressure or pressure lrestraining, valve,'tlie port 2 is the inlet port, the port 3 the outlet port, the valve is held closed by gravity or by disposing; the spring 50 as shown in Figure 1,5and the diaphragm isy arranged for a valve openingl act-ion as also shown in Figure l. IV hen so employed, the valve will be set against the escape olf pressure on the side 2 of the valve'nntil a predetermined pressure is'reaclied, such pressure acting on the diaphragm to open the valve against :resistance otl valve gravity or spring' 50. lrVhen usecL as a pressure reducing vaive,port 3 is employed y as the inlet and port 2 as the Voutlet,.the valve is set at the proper open position, the diaphragm reversed and employed as a valve closing device and the spring, il eu'iployed, reversed to act as a valve openingr .member operating in opposi tion Vto the closing ypressure on the diaphragm. It Will be observed that in this valve all the working` parts are enclosed and protected 'from dirt, dust, the' action oit' the elements and from possible casual derangement orfininry, and that the use oit the spring tensionV adjustment and shitting; iiulcruni, either or both, provides a means 'tor a proper regulation of the power ratios oi' the lever arms so as to secure a very sensitive actionoi the valve. The sp Y ready'access heini,"V afforded thereto for inspection and repairs with or Withoutits disassemblage. This valve also has a Wider degrec oit application for different pressure control actions than other valves of the cha-racter heretofore employed. Y

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim l. In a pressure regulating valve, a casing having inlet and outlet ports at opposite sides, a partition in said casing,r forming an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the outer ring' described also permits Y with Whichit connects and the bottoni Wall oi the casingv being 'convexly curved betvreen said dam Wall and the Vother side port of the casing topi-Ovide for a drainof liquid entering the base oi the casing through said. port.

2. VIn a pressure regulating valve, a valve casing having side ports, a partitionV forming an innerchamber Within the chamber the ,casing and having top and bottom ports and a lateral port, the latter con'imunieating with one said side ports et' the casing above the level of said side port and also above theievel of the bottom of the casini@Y chamber, the said betteln ot' the casingl chamber sloping toward the other side port et the casing, and a valve controlling the top and bottom ports in the partition.V Y Y 3, In a pressure regulating valve, a valve 'casing having sidelports, a partition :forming an inner chamber Within 'the chamber of the casing and having top and bottom ports and a lateral port, the latter communicating With one ot said side ports of the casing above the level ot' said sidefport and also abovethe level of the bottom of the casing chamber, the said bottom of' the easingr `chamber sloping toward the other side port of the casi ng, and said bottom Wall of the casing' having an opening beneath the bottom port in the partition,.a closure for said opening, and a valve Vcontrolling the top andbottom ports of the partition. Y

4. In -a .pressure regulating valve, a valve casing havingside ports, a partition forming an inner chamber Within the chamber of the casing and having top and bottom ports and a lateral port, .the latter communicating With one of said side ports ot the casing above the level of said side port and also above the level of Vthe bottom of thecasing chamber, the said bottom of the casing; chamber sloping' toward the other side port oi' the casing, and said bottom wall of the casinghaving an opening beneath the bottom port i-in the partition, elo sure for said opening, a valve controlling the top and bottomnports inv the partition, and coacting guide. members yon the valve and closure. ,f Y

5. In a pressure regulating valve, a valve casing havin;` valve seats, a-valve composed of valve members engageable 'with said seats, a valve stem composed ot' sections with which lli) the valve members are detachably connected, a flow reducer detachably mounted on each valve stem section below each valve member, and means for controlling the valve.

6. In a pressure regulating valve, a casing having valve seats, a valve stem comprising detachably connected sections and having a guide member at its lower end, a valve member detachably engaging each of the stem sections, a flow reducer detaehably mounted on each valve stem section below each valve member, a guide for the upper end of the stem, and a guide member on the bottom of the valve casing telescopically engaging the guide member at the lower end of the stem.

7. In a pressure regulating valve, a casing having valve seats, a sectional valve stem, valve members forengagement with the seats each comprising a recessed body detachably engaging the stem sections, packing means carried by the body, and a flow reducer detachably mounted on each valve stem below the valve, and means for controlling the valves.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ANDREW J. MCEWAN. 

